Spotted Ground-Thrush
NameSpotted Ground-Thrush
Common NameSpotted Ground-Thrush
Scientific NameZoothera guttata
FamilyTurdidae
Wingspan (cm)33
Length (cm)22
Weight (g)60
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are dark brown, including the head and nape. The underparts are white, heavily marked with large, round black spots, particularly dense on the breast and flanks. It has a prominent white eye-ring and a white patch on the lores, with two distinct white wing-bars visible on the coverts.
Vocalization / CallIts song is a series of clear, fluty, and melancholic whistles, often described as 'tee-too-tee-too'. It also produces a soft 'churr' call.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusendangered
Geographic RangeFound in disjunct populations across eastern and southern Africa, including coastal forests of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), Mozambique, and parts of Tanzania and Kenya. Some populations are migratory.
Identifying Featuresheavily spotted white underparts, dark brown upperparts, white eye-ring, white wing-bars, shy, ground-dwelling behavior
Description
The Spotted Ground-Thrush is a medium-sized, shy thrush characterized by its distinctive heavily spotted underparts. It typically forages on the forest floor, searching for invertebrates, and can be elusive, often heard before it is seen.
